Once you have decided to take a closer look at an aspect of provision in your school, you will need to ask the following questions:
There are a number of sources of information which can help you answer these questions. Together, they form a tool-kit for self-evaluation.
Many of the elements within this tool-kit have been developed by schools, authorities and HM Inspectors, working in partnership within the Quality Initiative in Scottish Schools. These elements include individual publications, and series such as:
Schools, authorities and HMI are continuing to add to this tool-kit as self-evaluation becomes more and more embedded in the way we manage quality in our schools. You can find information about a wide range of current publications on the HMIE web-site: http://www.hmie.gov.uk. This site also provides links to a range of other educational organisations. The Scottish Virtual Teachers Centre: http://www.svtc.org.uk provides a comprehensive list of publications and sources of advice.
Examples of relevant sources of information include:
|
Key Area 1: Curriculum |
Learning and Teaching Scotland: http://www.ltscotland.com
5-14 guidelines, Scottish CCC (now LTS)
Standard Grade Arrangements, SQA
Higher Still course documentation, HSDU and SQA
|
Key Area 2: Attainment |
National and local reports on 5-14 attainment levels
Standard Tables and Charts, CD ROM, SEED
Raising Standards — Setting Targets (series), HMI, SOEID
|
Key Area 3: Learning and Teaching |
Effective Learning and Teaching in Scottish Secondary Schools (series), HMI, SOEID at http://www.hmie.gov.uk
Teaching for Effective Learning, SCCC, 1996
Achievement for All, HMI, SOED, 1996
Improving Maths Education 5-14, HMI, SOED, 1997, and other titles in the series
Achieving Success in S1/S2, HMI, SOEID, 1998
A Route to Effective Learning and Teaching, South Ayrshire Council, 1999
The Homework File, Quality in Education, Strathclyde University
|
Key Area 4: Support for Pupils |
Support for Learning: SEN within 5-14, SCCC, 1993
Effective Provision for Special Educational Needs, SOED, 1994
Taking a closer look at guidance, Aberdeen City Council with HMI, SOEID,
1998
Taking a closer look at specialist services to schools, Aberdeen City
and South Lanarkshire Councils with HMI, SOEID, 1998
Taking a closer look at promoting social competence, SOEID, 1998
A Manual of Good Practice in Special Educational Needs, SOEID, 1999
Taking a closer look at primary-secondary liaison, South Ayrshire Council,
1999
Work experience: a guide to promoting quality, Scottish CCC, 1999
Taking a closer look at education industry links, HMI, SOEID 1997
|
Key Area 5: Ethos |
Scottish Schools Ethos Network: http://www.ethosnet.co.uk
Scottish Initiative on Absence, Attendance and Attainment
Close to the Mark, HMI with QIE, Strathclyde University, (1998)
A Route to Equality and Fairness, South Ayrshire Council, 1999
An Ethos of Achievement, HMI, SEED, 2000
Promoting Positive Discipline, HMI, SEED, March 1999
Anti-bullying Network: http://www.antibullying.net
Dealing with Disruption CD-ROM, SEED, Edinburgh University
Alternatives to School Exclusion, HMIE, April 2001
Learning with Care, HMIE/SWSI, March 2001
|
Key Area 6: Resources |
Investors in People: Making it Happen in Scottish Schools, HMI, SOED,
1996
Taking a closer look at the school library resource centre, HMI, SOEID,
SCCC, SLIC, SLC, 1997
|
Key Area 7: Management, leadership and quality assurance |
Scottish Qualification for Headship – http://www.sqh.ed.ac.uk/
Improving Leadership in Scottish Schools, HMI, SEED, 2000
Effective Secondary Schools, SOED, 1988 and Effective Primary Schools, SOED, 1989
Making it happen using Performance Indicators, HMI, SOEID, 1998, and other titles in the series
Standards and Quality in Scottish Schools three-yearly reports, HMI, SEED
Standards and Quality in Modern Languages, HMI, SOEID, 1998 and other titles in the series at http://www.hmie.gov.uk
Annual Information Reports on Schools (AIRS ) series, SEED
Links between How good is our school? and the EFQM Excellence model: http://www.hmie.gov.uk
Links between How good is our school? and Charter Mark: http://www.hmie.gov.uk